UK General Discussion:The Rt. Hon Alex Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, Populist Hero

[Continential]

https://twitter.com/CorbynistaTeen/status/1230202817442439168

Yes,  you if you want to work in the NHS. /s

[Filuwaúrdjan]

There are exemptions for people working in the health services. Doubtless many more besides will be carved out in other sectors. I don't particularly like the new rules, but misinformation helps no one.

[Silent Hunter]

Yep, I suspect that the CBI and many of the bigger Tory donors will make their views very clear on this.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

At least we don't have chaos with Ed Miliband!

His first term as PM still has a few months to run in another universe.

Just a few? That's terrible news for another universe Ed Milliband.

[PSOL]

Well there is a major protest march to free Assange in London

[Silent Hunter]

Hundreds of people is not a major protest march in London.

[Democratic Hawk]

Well there is a major protest march to free Assange in London

Who the hell cares? I was blocked by an Assangist on Twitter for 'inhumanity'

[Kingpoleon]

https://twitter.com/CorbynistaTeen/status/1230202817442439168

Yes,  you if you want to work in the NHS. /s

Why on earth are British nurses paid so little?

[Silent Hunter]

Those are starting salaries for new employees... but this is a taxpayer funded system that is badly underfunded.

[DaWN]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51709639

'Raging egotists' refusal to promptly resign is going to leave the new Leader of the Opposition with less time than it takes to get really good results from teeth whitening strips to establish him/herself before a major set of local elections'

Discuss

[CumbrianLefty]

Blatantly obvious expectations management.

There will be over a month between them and getting a new Labour leader* (in other words, that's before even the postal ballots go out) and if it is really true Corbyn is the only thing stopping people voting for the party - as people like you endlessly assert - shouldn't things be fine?

(*and that is assuming no delay due to rampant coronavirus, something that is starting to be mooted)

[Pericles]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51709639

'Raging egotists' refusal to promptly resign is going to leave the new Leader of the Opposition with less time than it takes to get really good results from teeth whitening strips to establish him/herself before a major set of local elections'

Discuss

If anything that means the local elections could come in the new leader's honeymoon period but before that honeymoon wears off. It is a bit weird that Corbyn is still Leader but doesn't seem unprecedented.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

obviously it's all dire, but I did laugh at the beeb saying "historic strongholds such as Sheffield". They do know the Lib Dems controlled Sheffield in the New Labour years, right?

[CumbrianLefty]

obviously it's all dire, but I did laugh at the beeb saying "historic strongholds such as Sheffield". They do know the Lib Dems controlled Sheffield in the New Labour years, right?

I really wouldn't bet on them knowing that, or anything else save the most idle and trivial gossip.

Its really no exaggeration that the BBC news/current affairs department needs to die, if only to save the still good things about the corporation.

[CumbrianLefty]

No confirmation yet, but looking increasingly likely that this May's elections will be shelved until the autumn.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

No confirmation yet, but looking increasingly likely that this May's elections will be shelved until the autumn.

If you consider how this spreads and then consider British electoral procedures, well, oh.

[Silent Hunter]

No confirmation yet, but looking increasingly likely that this May's elections will be shelved until the autumn.

Postponed for a year, it seems. Makes sense to hold a bigger lot of elections in 2021.

[CumbrianLefty]

Personally I think holding the elections due this year in Sept-Nov makes more sense.

(assuming the coast is mostly clear by then)

[Silent Hunter]

Logistically it's easier; you're already going to be hiring the sports centres, schools and community halls etc. for 2021 elections in many places.

[Antonio the Sixth]

What about the Labour leadership election?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What about the Labour leadership election?

Well most of the votes have already been cast, and it's an online and postal ballot. So no worries there. But the result will now be announced in a smaller setting, not the big Special Conference.

[CumbrianLefty]

What about the Labour leadership election?

The spring LibDem conference is also cancelled, even only big gatherings are officially discouraged.

(boom, boom)

[CumbrianLefty]

In non-virus news, the "zombie" boundary review for the Commons started a decade ago by Cameron appears to have been finally put out of its misery. The government now says a new review will begin, with - crucially - 650 seats rather than 600 as was previously planned. The inflexible 5% maximum variation in electorate sizes is staying for now, but I suspect even that may be changed in due course.

[Antonio the Sixth]

In non-virus news, the "zombie" boundary review for the Commons started a decade ago by Cameron appears to have been finally put out of its misery. The government now says a new review will begin, with - crucially - 650 seats rather than 600 as was previously planned. The inflexible 5% maximum variation in electorate sizes is staying for now, but I suspect even that may be changed in due course.

Fantastic news!!!

[Lord Halifax]

Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating at Downing Street, but will still lead the government's response to the accelerating outbreak.